Opinion: Medicine stopped shaking hands. We should start again

The Story At A Glance

• • Handshake frequency among hospital doctors dropped from over 70 percent to roughly 22 percent following the pandemic.


• • Clinicians cite infection control and pathogen transmission as the primary reasons for abandoning the greeting.


• • Some medical reviews suggest replacing handshakes with nods or bows to maintain rapport without physical contact.

Context
The decline in handshaking represents a shift in medical etiquette driven by post-COVID hygiene protocols. While patients often desire the gesture for trust, doctors prioritize minimizing the spread of respiratory viruses.

Christian Perspective
The loss of the handshake reflects a broader decay in genuine human connection and the dignity of the individual. Christian fellowship requires presence and physical acknowledgment of one's neighbor. Replacing a handshake with a bow or a nod can feel like a sterile imitation of true communal respect.

Implications
This trend signals the continued atomization of American society where physical touch is viewed with suspicion rather than as a tool for bonding. It reinforces a culture of fear and isolation that undermines the social fabric. Restoring such customs is necessary to rebuild the trust required for a healthy, functioning community.

Broader Trends
The medical establishment's pivot toward sterile, non-contact interactions mirrors the globalist push to deconstruct traditional social norms. This movement toward hyper-hygiene often serves as a pretext for increasing state and institutional control over personal conduct. It aligns with a wider cultural trend of prioritizing bureaucratic safety over organic human interaction.

Takeaway
Americans should resist the urge to adopt permanent habits of social distance and suspicion. We must prioritize the restoration of traditional manners that affirm the humanity of others. Reclaiming physical gestures of respect is a small but vital step in defending our culture against sterile modernism.